Suspect shot, killed by deputies in unincorporated area near Whittier

Officials have released the name of a Colorado man fatally shot by sheriff's deputies over the weekend following a standoff in a unincorporated area near Whittier.

Joshua Shoop, 35, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died at the scene of the deputy-involved shooting, which took place just before 7 a.m. Sunday in a residential neighborhood in the 7600 block of Norwalk Boulevard, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Larry Dietz said.

Shoop was shot to death by deputies after he and his girlfriend - whose name has not been released - fled from police, fired on officers and engaged in a lengthy standoff, according to Lt. David Coleman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau, which is spearheading the investigation.

The couple fled from Whittier police who tried to pull them over in a SUV, which was later determined to have been stolen in Colorado, shortly before midnight in Santa Fe Springs, officials said.

They chase was canceled by police, however a sheriff's deputy spotted the car a short time later in the area of Washington and Norwalk boulevards shortly after midnight Sunday.

The SUV crashed through a fence and both Shoop and the female suspect exited the vehicle and opened fire on approaching Whittier police officers, Coleman said.

Investigators said the couple then holed up inside a converted garage in the 7600 block of Norwalk Boulevard in an unincorporated area west of Whittier.

The woman, who Shoop told deputies was his hostage, exited the garage and surrendered to a SWAT team about 4:30 a.m. Monday, officials said.

Just over two hours later, Coleman said, Shoop apparently fired a shot at deputies from within the garage. He then emerged from the garage with a gun and was fatally shot by deputies, Coleman said.

The female suspect was booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer and the murder of her boyfriend. Under California law, a person may be charged with murder whenever they commit an alleged felony that results in someone's death.